Wire-stretcher.



H. B. POWELL.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION TILED 230.15, 1911.

1,037,529, Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOMER B. POWELL, or PALMER, WEST VIRGINIA.

WIRE- STRETCHER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOMER B. POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palmer, in the county of Braxton and State of est Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in lVire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a wire stretcher, the object of the invention being a deviceof this kind which will be simple in construction and operation, and at the same time strong and durable.

The special object of the invention is to provide means for readily opening the jaws to receive the wire, and also to provide wedge shaped jaws, which when closed rest in a wedge shaped frame thereby firmly locking the jaws in closed position, the pull of the wire serving to wedge the jaws closer together.

In carrying out the invention, I employ the novel features of construction hereinafter described, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the wire holding device, parts being broken away and the jaws being shown in open position, a pivot pin being in section. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig, 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the jaws open, the jaws being re moved from the holding frame. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the jaw block, the jaws being detached.

In these drawings, 1 represents a handle of suitable length, having a bifurcated end portion 2, to form a frame for holding a jaw block 3, said block being pivotally mounted in said frame and being swung by a lever 4:, or handle, secured upon the upper face of the block. This handle curves rearwardly over the handle 1 and bears upon a spring 5. The block has its front face cutout as shown at 6 and in the cut-out portion are pivoted two jaws 7, the jaws being forced apart by a spring 8 suitably seated in them. The members of the bifurcation 2 in advance of the block 3 are wedge shaped in cross section and the jaws 7 are also wedgeshaped, their adjacent faces of course being parallel, andbeing roughened 'in order to secure a firm grip upon the wire. The

spring 5 will normally hold the jaws and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 15, 1911.

Patented Sept. 3.1912;

Serial No. 665,999.

the block 3 in a position parallel to the sides of the bifurcation 2, and by reason of the wedgeshaped construction, above described, the jaws will be forced together against the expansion of the spring 8. To open the jaws in order to insert or remove a portion of the wire it is merely necessary to depress the lever 4 against the tension of the spring 5 thus rocking the block 3 and throwing the jaws upwardly and partly out of the frame. This permits the spring 8 to force the jaws apart sufficiently to readily insert a portion of the wire. Upon releasing the lever 4., the spring 5 will throw the block back to its normal position thus carrying the jaws into the frame and forcing them into closed position. In use the handle 1 is placed against a pole or post, which is used as a bearing for the handle to be rotated about.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a handle having a bifurcated end portion, a block rotatably mounted in'said bifurcation, jaws pivotally carried by said block, said jaws being wedgeshaped in cross section, and the sides of the bifurcation in advance of the block being wedge-shaped in cross section, a spring adapted to throw said jaws into open position, and means for normally holding said block in normal position.

2. The combination with a handle bifurcated at its forward end, a block pivoted in said bifurcation, the sides of the bifurcation being wedge-shaped in cross section in advance of the block, jaws pivoted in said block and adapted to swing in a plane at right angles to the rocking movement of the block, said jaws being wedge-shaped in cross section, a spring for throwing said jaws in open position, a handle carried by the block, and a spring adapted to hold said block in normal position,

3. In a device of the kind described, a jaw frame having wedgeshaped sides, a block pivotally mounted in said frame and to the rear of the wedge-shaped port-ion, jaws pivotally connected to the block, the jaws being also wedge-shaped, said jaws opening in a plane at right angles to the plane in which the block swings, means for normally holding said block and jaws parallel with the sides of the frame and means for opening said jaws automatically when said block is rocked upon its pivotal ing said jaws out of said frame, and means point. for opening the jaws automatically when so 10 4. In a device of the kind described, a lifted. pivoted block, pivoted Wedge-shaped jaws HOMER B POWVELL carried by the block a frame having side members wedge-shaped in cross section and Vitnesses:

adapted to normally receive and close said M, T. Hoovnn, jaws, means for rocking the block and lift- A. J. J ANUSBEK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

